Where to Donate/Volunteer

[NariaDreaming]

I want to put out there that Lutheran Social Services (Lutheran Services in America/LSA) has one of the largest government contracts for refugee resettlement in the US, and they are a pro-LGBT organization on a national level.

[kristhegirl]

I'd like to submit SIECUS, as a complement to NARAL/PP, as well as being LGBQT positive: Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States (SIECUS).

Their focus is sex/sexuality health and education. Here is a link to their position statements:
www.siecus.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page.ViewPage&pageId=494

Big focus is getting comprehensive sex education in schools across the nation. They also work with PP and NARAL where their missions coincide in focus.

(I do not work for SIECUS, but I do have a connection with someone who does, if anyone has any questions. They are not as well known, but they do such an important facet of work in this arena.)

[penguin129]

After HL's 8 day stay in the NICU and the time I spent in the Ronald McDonald House away from AG and my husband I want to submit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. I'm not sure what I would have done if it weren't for being able to stay at The House. We live over 50 miles away from the hospital and I just couldn't imagine if I would have had to drive there and back for the 5 days after I was discharged. They do so much for families with babies in the NICU and children in the PICU. I'm calling The House I stayed at tomorrow and will be hopefully getting approval to host some fundraising events in my little town. Wish me luck!

[frecklesnbrains]

American Civil Liberties Union
Environmental Defense Fund
I'm extremely selective about my charities and love these two. They both have high ratings on many charity rating sites AND use political and legislative action, which is more important than ever right now. These two issues are at highest risk of severe damage from the Trump administration.

[Ee]

Southern Poverty Law Center
www.splcenter.org/

The Sierra Club Foundation
www.sierraclubfoundation.org/

[NariaDreaming]

Guys- can you update your posts with links to the organizatons? I'm linking each org to your post to keep the OP decluttered.

[NariaDreaming]

You can find a comprehensive list of refugee resettlement programs here, sorted by state: www.acf.hhs.gov/orr/state-programs-annual-overview

[icedtea]

You can find your local abortion fund through NNAF's website: abortionfunds.org//contact.

This site has a list of free clinics, I know the one in my area has various needs: www.nafcclinics.org/clinics/search

The Black Youth Project: byp100.org/

Our 100 (leaders who are women of color): our100.org

[caloneis]

Natural Resources Defense Council
the courts will be the place that the battle over the environment will be fought the next 4 years
A Vox piece on the environment under Trump and a Republican Congress.

ProPublica non-profit journalism in the public interest
I think supporting independent journalism will be very important. We must hold the Trump administration accountable and I fear the inability of major news outlets to do so.

[JustinBobby]

Volunteermatch.org is a great resource to find organizations that need help. You can sort by your geographic area and interests.

[NariaDreaming]

In the Huffpo comments, someone brought up the very valid suggestion of donating to PFLAG to help support families of the LGBT community. It's become increasingly obvious that hate and fear run deep in this country, and families are going to continue to need resources to heal.

www.pflag.org


They are rated 4 stars on CharityNavigator

[bocaburger]

Trans Lifeline (to support transgender people in crisis)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

I'm looking for one good LGBQ org and one good disability org to donate to as well, if anyone has ideas.

[wibblywobbly]

Nov 14, 2016 13:10:55 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

Trans Lifeline (to support transgender people in crisis)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

I'm looking for one good LGBQ org and one good disability org to donate to as well, if anyone has ideas.

The Trevor Project (trevorproject.org) provides crisis intervention and suicide intervention for LGBTQ youth (13-24).

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2016 13:10:55 GMT -5 bocaburger said:

Trans Lifeline (to support transgender people in crisis)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)

I'm looking for one good LGBQ org and one good disability org to donate to as well, if anyone has ideas.

www.lambdalegal.org

This is from their website "Who We Are
: Founded in 1973, Lambda Legal is the oldest and largest national legal organization whose mission is to achieve full recognition of the civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work.

As a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, we do not charge our clients for legal representation or advocacy, and we receive no government funding. We depend on contributions from supporters around the country."

[cagoldi]

SURJ (Showing Up For Racial Justice)
www.showingupforracialjustice.org/about

Running Start
runningstartonline.org/

Anti-Defamation League
www.adl.org/

Center for Reproductive Rights
www.reproductiverights.org/

[butlerfan]

Nov 14, 2016 1:25:30 GMT -5 penguin129 said:

After HL's 8 day stay in the NICU and the time I spent in the Ronald McDonald House away from AG and my husband I want to submit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. I'm not sure what I would have done if it weren't for being able to stay at The House. We live over 50 miles away from the hospital and I just couldn't imagine if I would have had to drive there and back for the 5 days after I was discharged. They do so much for families with babies in the NICU and children in the PICU. I'm calling The House I stayed at tomorrow and will be hopefully getting approval to host some fundraising events in my little town. Wish me luck!

Update with link NariaDreaming

Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwest Florida

They were building a Ronald McDonald House near the hospital I stayed in when I was a baby. If it was ready my parents could have stayed their instead of having to drive an hour each way to see me. I love the Ronald McDonald House for the support they show preemie's. Also-tomorros is national prematurity awareness day so should wear purple to show awareness.

[CurlySu717]

I have a question, and I want to admit my own ignorance right off the bat, and I apologize if I ask this in an incorrect way, but, what about Black Lives Matter? I have been reading about them and about how to help the cause, but it seems that it isn't always helpful to have white people present at the demonstrations. I have also heard a lot about SURJ; would my involvement as a white person be more helpful there? I want to help in a way that is actually helpful, and also without detracting from the cause.

[cagoldi]

Nov 16, 2016 16:30:57 GMT -5 CurlySu717 said:

I have a question, and I want to admit my own ignorance right off the bat, and I apologize if I ask this in an incorrect way, but, what about Black Lives Matter? I have been reading about them and about how to help the cause, but it seems that it isn't always helpful to have white people present at the demonstrations. I have also heard a lot about SURJ; would my involvement as a white person be more helpful there? I want to help in a way that is actually helpful, and also without detracting from the cause.

I have done events with SURJ (I'm an animal rights activist and we sometimes have demonstrations with other groups), and SURJ is geared towards teaching white people how to be an ally. I don't know that I'd say your involvement would be more helpful there, but it's a good place to start to dip your toe into the activism world. They have so many resources that will be valuable in terms of letting you navigate the best way to help POCs.

As for BLM, this could be different in other areas, but some local white activists here in LA organized an event and it didn't go over well. We were going to observe some obvious unspoken rules, like defer to a POC if the media wants to interview a white person, if they ask who is in charge or who organized also let someone who isn't white do the talking, etc. But apparently the local activist got some nastygrams from people involved in BLM. It's entirely possible this isn't the norm in other areas though.

I think you're more likely to be able to actually jump right in with SURJ, and with BLM there is the potential for some drama that might catch you off guard. I think our involvement with BLM could be kind of distracting, and since SURJ was established with the express purpose of getting whites to become active for the cause you can't go wrong there.

[Deleted]

I just put in my volunteer application with my local office of the International Rescue Committee: www.rescue.org

My friend started volunteering there after hearing good things from a friend of hers who does too. They seem relatively well-organized and have a lot of different types of volunteer opportunities.